A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos
Phobia of the Day: Hippopotomonstro-sesquipedaliophobia
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an irrational response.
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an immediate anxiety response.
Most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:
- Fears of the natural environment
- Fears related to animals
- Fear related to medical treatments or issues
- Fears related to specific situations
Phobia of the Day: Hippopotomonstro-sesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words. This 35-letter, 15-syllable word contains the root sesquipedalian, which means “long word.” Therefore, it is sometimes called sesquipedalophobia.
Children with hippopotomonstro-sesquipedaliophobia might develop school-related phobias or appear to simply lose interest in their academics. Other possible symptoms associated with a specific phobia such as the phobia of long words include:
- Feeling like you’re in imminent danger or need to escape
- Heart palpitations, sweating, or trembling
- Shortness of breath or feeling of choking
- Chest pain
- Abdominal discomfort or nausea
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Feeling like you are “going crazy”
- Tingling, chills, or a heat flush
SELF-CARE TIPS FOR PHOBIAS THAT BRING ON ANXIETY
- Talk to someone you trust.
- Learn to manage panic and anxiety.
- Look into joining a support group.
- Use self-help resources.
- Take a course for your specific phobia.
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